The Advantages and Possible Risks of Using Lithium-ion Batteries for Solar Street Lights
The wide application of solar street lights has greatly reduced the installation cost. And the advantages of high efficiency and energy saving have made it widely promoted and applied.
On the other hand, the energy storage battery of solar street lights is also one of the very important components in the entire system. In general, there are three types of batteries, lithium iron phosphate, lithium-ion and lead-acid. Lithium-ion batteries and iron-lithium batteries are currently the most widely used. Lithium-ion batteries have high energy density and they can be made smaller. While iron-lithium batteries have a longer life. These are the main reasons why the lithium batteries are so popular. However, in practical applications, due to outdoor exposure, the possible high temperature and humid climate will greatly shorten the life of lithium batteries, and eventually lead to serious consequences.
Here is the analysis of the advantages and risks of using lithium-ion batteries for solar street lights.
Advantages of using lithium batteries in solar street lights
1. Lithium-ion batteries is a kind of dry battery
A controllable, non-polluting energy storage battery, which is more stable and safer than lead-acid batteries.
2. Intelligent optimization calculation and reasonable distribution of power consumption levels
Lithium-ion battery can also intelligently optimize the calculation of remaining battery capacity, day and night time, weather conditions and other factors according to user needs. And then, reasonably allocate power consumption levels. Besides, it also realize functions such as light control, time control and storage memory to ensure the lights up in the continuous rainy days.
3. Lithium ion battery has a long service life
Different from the short life of lead-acid batteries, which need to be replaced in two or three years, the service life of lithium-ion batteries is generally longer than 10 years. In solar street light systems, the service life of LED light is generally up to 10 years (about 50,000 hours). The lithium ion battery can be perfectly matched with the system, eliminating the tedious process of frequent battery replacement.
The disadvantages of using batteries in solar street lights
1. Environmental factors may cause problems with lithium batteries
Exposure to direct sunlight during the day for a long time, the high temperature generated may cause serious failure of the lithium battery. This is mainly because the operating temperature range of conventional lithium batteries is -20°C to -60°C. But the internal temperature of the box after direct sunlight may be higher than 80°C. Extreme ambient temperature is a big killer for lithium batteries.
2. Lack or inadequate management of outdoor equipment
Because solar street lights need to be installed outdoors, even in the wilderness away from the crowd. There are certain difficulties in management. What’s more, inadequate management will also lead to problems that cannot be detected in the early stage, but eventually become serious and expand.